"Rames will be far away," broke in Tua. "Go, bring him here at once, and
with him the Vizier and the chief scribe of the Council. Take this ring,
it will open all doors," and she drew the signet from her finger and
handed it to him.

"At this hour, your Majesty?" said Mermes in a doubtful voice.

"Have I not spoken," she answered impatiently. "When the welfare of
Egypt is at stake I do not sleep."

So Mermes bowed and went, and while he was gone Tua caused Asti to
smooth her hair and change her robe and ornaments for others which,
although she did not say so, she thought became her better. Then she
sat her down in a chair of state in her chamber of audience, and waited,
while Asti stood beside her asking no questions, but wondering.

At length the doors were opened, and through them appeared Mermes and
the Vizier and the chief of the scribes, both of them trying to hide
their yawns, for they had been summoned from their beds who were not
wont to do state business at such hours. After them limped Rames, for
his wound had grown stiff, who looked bewildered, but otherwise just as
he had left the feast.

Now, without waiting for the greetings of ceremony, Tua began to
question the Vizier as to what steps had been taken in furtherance of
her decrees, and when he assured her that the business was on foot, went
into its every detail with him, as to the ships and the officers and the
provisioning of the men, and so forth. Next she set herself to dictate
despatches to the captains and barons who held the fortresses on the
Upper Nile, communicating to them Pharaoh's orders on this matter, and